9alpha-fluoro-delta 1-3, 20-diketo-11, 21-bis-oxy-genated-17-hydroxy-allopregnenes and processes for preparing them



United States Patent Ralph F. Hirschmann, Westfield, and Richard Miller, New Brunswick, NJ., assignors to Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N .J a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application May 26, 1955 Serial No. 511,401

8 Claims. (Cl. 260-397.45)

This invention is concerned generally with novel steroid compounds and with processes for preparing them. More particularly, it relates to 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo- 11,21 bis oxygenated 17 hydroxy-allopregnene compounds, and to processes of preparing these compounds starting with 9a-fluoro-3,'20-diketo-1l-oxygcnated-17-hydroxy-2l-acyloxy-allopregnanes. These novel 9a-fiu010- A 3,20-diketo-11,21-bis-oxygenated 17 hydroxy-allopregnene compounds possess cortisone activity, but difier from cortisone and hydrocortisone in not possessing any appreciable sodium or water retention action. The new compounds are especially effective in the treatment of arthritis and related diseases since they can be administered for their cortisone action without producing the undesired metabolic effects such as edema, which are caused by the sodium and water retention of cortisone.

These novel 9zx-fl11010-A 3,20 diketo-ll,2l-bis-oxygenated-l7-hydroxy-allopregnene compounds, subject of the present invention, may be chemically represented as follows:

wherein Z is a keto or hydroxy radical, and R is hydrogen or an acyl radical.

The 9ofluoro-A -3,20-diketo-11.,21-bis-oxygenated-l7- hydroxy-a1lopregnene compounds may be prepared by reacting a 9a-fiuoro-3,20-diketo-ll-oxygenated-l7-hydroxy- 21-acyloxy-allopregnane compound (Compound 1 hereinbelow) with one molecular equivalent of bromine to form the corresponding 2-bromo-9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo-1l-oxygenated-17-hydroxy-21-acyloxy allopregnane compound (Compound 2), which is reacted with semicarbazide thereby simultaneously forming the 3-semicarbazone and removing the elements of hydrogen bromide from the molecule to produce the 3-semicarbazone of the correspending 90: fluor0-A -3,2O-diketo-11-oxygenated-17-hydroxy-Zl-acyloxy-allopregnene compound (Compound 3). This 3-semicarbazone is then reacted with an acidic hydrolyzing agent in the presence of a carbonyl acceptor such as pyruvic acid to form the 9u-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo11- oxygenated-l7-hydroxy-2l-acyloxy allopregnene (Compound 4 where R is acyl), which may be hydrolyzed, if desired, by reaction with an alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide to produce the9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-1l-oxygenated 17,21 dihydroxy allopregnene (Compound 4 where R is hydrogen). The reactions indicated hereinabove may be chemically represented as follows:

CHzOR CHrOR J1=0 (i=0 ----0H I---on i Br I O I O l 5 Compound 1 Compound 2 CHzOR CHaOR' :0 =0 .0 l---OH z-( z-- a r so: I O:

Compound 3 Compound 4 wherein Z is a keto or hydroxy radical, R is an acyl radical, SC stands for a semicarbazone substituent, and R is hydrogen or an acyl radical.

The starting materials used in the foregoing process, the fluoro-3,20-diketo-ll-oxygenated-l7-hydroxy-21- acyloXy-allopregnanes are conveniently prepared by reacting the corresponding 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-1l-oxygenated-l7-hydroxy-21-acyloxypregncne (i.e. 9ot-finorocortisone 2l-acylate and 9a-fluoro-hydrocortisone 21- acylate) with hydrogen in the presence of palladium catalyst whereby the A -unsaturated linkage is selectively reduced without substantially af ecting other reducible linkages in the molecule to produce the 9afll1OIO-3,20 diketo-ll-oxygenated 17 hydroxy-Zl-acyloxy-allopregnane, as for example 9a-fluoro-3,l1,20-triketo17-hydroxy-2l-acyloxy-allopregnanes such as 9a-fi1101'O-3,11,20 triketo-17u,2l-dihydroXy-allopregnane 2l-alkanoate, 90cfluoro-3,11,20-triketo-17a,2l-dihydroxy-allopregnane 21- acetate, 90: fiuoro-3,l 1,20-triketo-l7u,21-dihydroXy-allopregnane ZI-t-butylacetate, 9a-fluoro-3,l1,20-triketo-l'7a, 21-dihydroxy-allopregnane 21 -benzoate, 9u-fiuoro-3,20- diketo-l1,l7-dihydroXy-2l-acyloxy-allopregnanes such as 9oc-flll010 3,20 diketo 1l,8,17a,2l-trihydroxy-allopregnane 2l-alkanoate, 9u-fluoro-3,20-diketo-1lp,l7a,21-trihydroxy-allopregnane 2l-acetate, 9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo- 11,8,l7u,2l-trihydroXy-allopregnane ZI-t-butylacetate, 9afluoro-3,20-diket0-l 1(3,17,21-trihydro-Xy-allopregnane 21- benzoate, and the like.

The reaction between the 9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo-ll-oxygenated-17-hydroxy-2l-acyloxy-allopregnane and the one molecular equivalent of bromine is conveniently conducted by bringing the reactants together in an inert organic solvent as for example a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent, such as chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, a lower alkanoic acid such as acetic acid, and the like, under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of an acidic catalyst such as hydrogen bromide, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and the like. It is ordinarily preferred to treat the 90: fluoro 3,20-diketo-1l-oxygenated-17-hydroxy-21- acyloxy-allopregnane, in chloroform containing a catalytic amount (i.e. a few drops) of a glacial acetic acid solution of p-toluene sulfonic acid, with a solution of one molar equivalent of bromine in glacial acetic acid. The reaction is ordinarily complete in about -15 minutes. The product is conveniently recovered by evaporating the halogenated hydrocarbon solvent, such as chloroform, in vacuo, diluting the resulting mixture with water, and recovering the precipitated brominated product by filtration. This material is dissolved in dichloromethane, the resulting solution is washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water, and dried. The dried dichloromethane solution is evaporated to dryness, and the residual material is recrystallized from acetonitrile to give the 2-bromo-9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo-ll-oxygenated- 17-hydroxy-2l-acyloxy-allopregnane, as for example 2- bromo 90c fluoro 3,11,20 triketo 17 hydroxy 21- acyloxy-allopregnanes such as 2-bromo-9a-fluoro-3,11,20- triketo-17a,2l-dihydroxy-allopregnane 21-acetate, Z-bromo 9a fluoro 3,11,20 triketo 170:,21 dihydroxyallopregnane 21-t-butylacetate or other 2-bromo-9a-fluoro- 3,11,20 triketo 17a,21 dihydroxy allopregnane 21 alkanoate, 2 bromo 9oz fluoro 3,20 diketo- 1113,1711 dihydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnanes such as 2 bromo 9a fluoro 3,20 diketo 1l;3,l7a,21- trihydroxy allopregnane 21 alkanoate, 2 bromo 9afluoro 3,20 diketo 11B,l7a,21 trihydroxy allopregnane 21 acetate, 2 bromo 90c fluoro 3,20 diketo- 115,17u,2l-trihydroxy-allopregnane 21-t-butylacetate, 2- bromo 9m fluoro 3,20 diketo 11,3,l7a,21 trihydroxy-allopregnane 21-benzoate, and the like.

The reaction between the -2-bromo-9a-fiu'oro-3,20-diketo ll oxygenated 17 hydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnane compound and semicarbazide is ordinarily conducted by bringing the reactants together in the presence of an organic solvent, preferably acetonitrile, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, such as chloroform, and the like. The semicarbazide is conveniently prepared in the reaction mixture by treating a salt of semicarbazide, such as semicarbazide hydrochloride, with a basic substance such as sodium acetate. It is preferred to treat the 2- bromo 9a fluoro 3,20 diketo 11 oxygenated 17- hydroxy-2l-acyloxy-allopregnane compound in acetonitrile solution with an aqueous solution of semicarbazide hydrochloride and sodium acetate under an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen, at approximately room temperature, under which conditions the reaction is usually complete in about 4-5 hours. The material which precipitates from the reaction solution is recovered by filtration, and washed with water to give the 3-semicarbazone of the 90c fluoro A 3,20 diketo 11 oxygenated 17- hydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnene compound as for example a 90: fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 17oz hydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnene 3-semicarbazone such as 904 fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 170;,21 dihydroxyallopregnene 3 semicarbazone 21 alkanoate, 9afluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 170;,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 3 semicarbazone 21 acetate, 90: fluoro- A 3,11,20 triketo 1711,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 3-semicarbazone 21 t butylacetate, 9a fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 1711,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 3- semicarbazone 21 benzoate, a 90: fluoro A 3,20- diketo 116,17 dihydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnene 3-semicarbazone, such as 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo- 11p,17a,2l-trihydroxy-allopregnene 3-semicarbazone 21- alkanoate, 90c fluoro A 3,20 diketo 11fl,17u,21

. trihydroxy allopregnene 3-semicarbazone 21 acetate,

90: fluoro -.A 3,20 diketo 1113,17a,21 trihydroxyallopregnene 3 semicarbazone 21 t butylacetate, 9afluoro A 3,20 diketo 1lfi,17a,21 trihydroxy allopregnene 3 semicarbazone 21 benzoate, and the like.

The hydrolysis of this 3-semicarbazone is conveniently conducted by bringing the 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-11- oxygenated 17 hydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnene 3- semicarbazone compound into intimate contact with an aqueous solution of an acid as for example an organic acid such as acetic acid, propionic acid, a mineral acid such as sulfuric acid, hydrohalic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like, preferably in the presence of a carbonyl acceptor such as pyruvic acid, and maintaining the resulting mixture at a temperature from about room temperature to about C. Under these conditions the hydrolysis reaction is ordinarily complete in about 30 minutes at the more elevated temperature, and in about 24 hours when the reaction is conducted at room temperature. In accordance with this preferred hydrolysis procedure utilizing aqueous acetic acid and pyruvic acid, there is obtained the corresponding 9u-fiuOr0-A -3,20- diketo 11 oxygenated 17 hydroxy 21 acyloxyallopregnene compound as for example 9a,fluoro-A 3,11,20 triketo 17a hydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnenes such as 9a-fluoro-A '-3,11,20-triketo-17a,2l-dihydroxy allopregnene 21 alkanoate, 9o: fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo l7a,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 21- acetate, 90c fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 17a,2l dihydroxy allopregnene 21 t butylacetate, 9a fluoro- A 3,11,20 triketo :,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 21 benzoate, 90c fluoro A 3,20 diketo 115,170:- dihydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnenes such as 9afluoro A 3,20 diketo 11p,17u,21 trihydroxy allopregnene 21 alkanoate, 9a fluoro A 3,20 diketo- 11B,l7a,21 trihydroxy allopregnene 21 acetate, 9afluoro A 3,20 diketo l1fl,17o:,21 trihydroxy allr pregnene 21 t butylacetate, 9a fluoro A 3,20- diketo 11fi,l7a,21 trihydroxy allopregnene 21 benzoate, and the like. The 9u-fluoro-A -3,11,20-triketo- 17oz hydroxy 21 acyloxy allopregnene and the 90:- fluoro A 3,20 diketo 113,170: dihydroxy 21- acyloxy-allopregnene may be hydrolyzed, if desired, by reaction with an alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide to produce 9a-fluoro-A -3,11,20-triketo-17a,21-dihydroxy-allopregnene and 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-115,17, 2l-trihydroxy-allopregnene, respectively.

The following examples illustrate methods of carrying out the present invention but it is to be understood that these examples are given for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.

Example 1 chloroform is evaporated from the reaction mixture in vacuo, and the actic acid reaction mixture is mixed with water and ice thereby precipitating the brominated steroid product. This precipitated material is recovered by filtration to give crude 2-bromo-9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo- 11,8,17u,21-t1ihydroxy-allopregnane 2l-acetate. The latter material is dissolved in dichloromethane, and the resulting solution is washed with an aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The dried solution is evaporated to dryness in vacuo, and the residual material recrystallized from acetonitrile to give substantially pure 2-bromo-9a-fluoro-3,ZO-diketo-l1fi,17u,2l-trihydroxy-allopregnane 21-acetate.

The 2 bromo-9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo-11fl,17u,21-trihydroxy-allopregnane 2l-acetate is dissolved in acetonitrile and the resulting solution is mixed with an aqueous solution of semicarbazide hydrochloride and sodium acetate. The resulting mixture is maintained under an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere for a period of about 4 /2 hours, and the precipitated material is recovered by filtration and washed with water to give 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-115, l7a,2l-trihydroxy-allopregnene 3-semicarbazone 21-acetate.

Example 2 About 0.620 g. of 9a,fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-11p,17a,21- trihydroxy-allopregnene 3-semicarbaz0ne 2l-acetate is suspended in 18.2 cc. of glacial acetic acid and 7.3 cc. of water, about 0.19 cc. of pyruvic acid is added, and the resulting mixture is allowed to stand in contact with an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere for a period of about 20 hours at room temperature. The resulting mixture is diluted with chloroform, the chloroform mixture is washed repeatedly with water, and the solvents are evaporated from the chloroform solution. The residual material is chromatographed over neutral alumina to give substantially pure 9u-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-11fl,17u,21- trihydroxy-allopregnene 21-acetate; M.P. approximately 237 C.; [11] +34.9 in acetone; U.V. A max in methanol 222 m (log E 4.03);

infrared A112? 2.77 2.98 5.73 57841, 605

The 9a-fluoro-A -3,20-diketo-1 1B,17ot,21-trihydroxyall0- pregnene 2l-acetate may be hydrolyzed by treatment with potassium hydroxide in methanol at room temperature to give 9a-fluoro-A -3,2.0-diketo-11p,17a,21-trihydroxy-allopregnene.

Example 3 In accordance with the procedure set forth in Example 1 hereinabove, and utilizing as starting material 90:- fluoro-3 1 1,20-triketo170:,21-dihydroxy-allopregnane 21- acetate in place of the 9a-fluoro-3,20-diketo-11B,17u,21- allopregnane 21-acetate used in Example 1, there are obtained 2-bromo-9oa-fluoro-3,11,20-triketo-17a,21-dihydroxy-allopregnane 21-acetate and 9ozfi11OIO-A -3,11,20 triketo-17a,2l-dihydroxy-allopregnene 3 semicarbazone ZI-acetate.

In accordance with the procedure set forth in Example 2 hereinabove, and utilizing as starting material 9a-fl1101'0- A -3 ,1 1,20-triketo-17a,21-dihydroxy-allopregnene 3-semicarbazone 21-acetate, there are obtained 9u-fiuoro-A 3,11,20-triketo-17a,2l-dihydroxy-allopregnene 21-acetate and 90a fluoro-A -3,11,2O-triketo-17a,21-dihydroxy-allopregnene.

The 9oz fluoro-3,20-diketo-11p,17a,21-trihydroxy-allopregnane 21-acetate, utilized as starting material in Example 1 hereinabove, may be prepared starting with 9afiuoro-hydrocortisone acetate (A -9m-fluoro-3,20-diketo- 115,17a,21-trihydroxy-pregnene 21-acetate) as follows:

1 6.0 g. of 5% palladium on charcoal catalyst are added to a suspension of 7.25 g. of said A -9oc-fll1OI'0-3,20-dik6tO- 11p,17a,21-trihydroxy-pregnene 21-acetate in 750 cc. of methanol, and the mixture is reacted with hydrogen at atmospheric pressure while maintaining the reactants at 6 9a-fluoro-cortisone acetate (A -9a-fluoro-3,11,20-triketo- 17a-21-dihydroxy-pregnene 21-acetate) in accordance with the foregoing hydrogenation procedure using 5% palladium on charcoal as the hydrogenation catalyst.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the annexed claims, they are to be considered as part of our invention.

We claim:

1. The process which comprises reacting 9a-fluoro- 3,11,20 triketo 17oz hydroxy 21 lower alkanoyloxy-allopregnane with one molecular equivalent of bromine to form the 2-lbrorninated derivative, reacting this compound with semicarbazide to form 9a-fluoro-A -3,11, 20 triketo 17oz hydroxy 21 lower alkanoyloxyallopregnene 3-semicarbazone, reacting this 3-semicarbazone with an aqueous solution of acetic acid in the presence of pyruvic acid thereby forming 9a-fiuoro-A -3,11, 20 triketo 170:,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 21 acylate, and reacting said fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo- 1701,21 dihydroxy allopregnene 21 acylate with a methanolic solution of potassium hydroxide to produce 90!. fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo :,21 dihydroxyallopregnene.

2. The process which comprises reacting 9a-fluoro-3, 20 diketo 11,8,170: dihydroxy 21 lower alkanoyloxy-allopregnane with one molecular equivalent of bromine to form the Z-brominated derivative, reacting said 2brominated derivative with semicarbazide to produce 911 fluoro A 3,20 diketo 115,170: dihydroxy 21- lower alkanoyloxy allopregnene 3 semicarbazone, reacting this 3-semicarbazone with an aqueous solution of acetic acid in the presence of pyruvic acid thereby forming 90c fluoro A 3,20 diketo 115,170; dihydroxy- 21 lower alkanoyloxy allopregnene, and reacting said 90!. fluoro A 3,20 diketo 11/3,17u dihydroxy 21- lower alkanoyloxy allopregnene with a methanolic solution of potassium hydroxide to produce 9a-fluoro-A 3,20 diketo 11111715 21 trihydroxy allopregnene.

3. 9a fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 17a hydroxy- 21-lower alkanoyloxy-allopregnene.

4. 9a fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 170:,21 dihydroxy-allopregnene.

5. 9o: fluoro A 3,11,20 triketo 1704,21 dihydroxyaallopregnene 21-acetate.

6. 9a fluoro A 3,20 diketo 11fl,17a-dihydroxy- 21-lower alkanoyloxy-allopregnene.

7. 90a fluoro A 3,20 diketo 115,17u,21 trihydroxy-allopregnene.

8. 9a. fluoro A 3,20 diketo 1118,17u,21 trihydroxy-allopregnene 21-acetate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,703,799 Bergstrom Mar. 8, 1955 2,707,190 Farrar Apr. 26, 1955 2,736,681 Tishler Feb. 28, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Fried: Jour. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 2273 (1953). Fried: Jour. Am. Chem. Soc. 76, 1455-6 (1954).

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 90,463 involving Patent No. 2,885,412, R. F. Hirschmann and R. Miller, 9a-fiu01'o-A -3,2O-diket0-11,21bis-oxygenated-17-hydroxyallopregnenes and. processes for preparing them, final judgment adverse to the patentees was rendered Nov. 29, 1962, as to claims 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

[Official Gazette Febmary 5, 1.963.] 

1. THE PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES REACTING 9A-FLUORO3,11,20 - TRIKETO - 17A - HYDROXY -21 - LOWER ALKANOYLOXY-ALLOPREGANE WITH ONE MOLECULAR EQUIVALENT OF BROMINE TO FORM THE 2-BORMINATED DERIVATIVE, REACTING THIS COMPOUND WITH SEMICARBAZIDE TO FORM 9A-FLUORO-$1-3,11, 20 - TRIKETO - 17A - HYDROXY - 21 - LOWER ALKANOYLOXYALLOPREGENE 3-SEMICARBAZONE, REACTING THIS 3-SEMICARBAZONE WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ACETIC ACID IN THE PRESENCE OF PYRUVIC ACID THEREBY FORMING 9A-FLUORO-$3,11, 20 - TRIKETO - 17A,21 - DIHYDROXY - ALLOPREGNENE 21 - ACYLATE, AND REACTING SAID 9A - FLUORO - $1 - 3,11,20 - TRIKETO17A,21 - DIHYDROXY - ALLOPREGENE 21 - ACYLATE WITH A METHANOLIC SOLUTION OF POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE TO PRODUCE 9A - FLUORO - $1 - 3,11,20 - TRIKETO - 17A,21 - DIHYDROXYALLOPREGENE.
 3. 9A - FLUORO - $1 - 3,11,20 - TRIKETO - 17A - HYDROXY21-LOWER ALKANOYLOXY-ALLOPREGENNE. 